Gregg Rosenthal's pick: Chip Kelly, Philadelphia Eagles

Schein: Super Bowl XLVIII forecast

Adam Schein predicts each conference's rep in New Jersey -- and picks a winner. (Popular opinion need not apply.)
More ...

The Coach of the Year pick has to line up with our record predictions. Mike Tomlin, Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll and Mike McCarthy would all make strong candidates after I predicted their teams would earn bye weeks in the playoffs, but voters often choose the better story. That leaves Kelly and former Eagles coach Andy Reid as the best candidates for leading their teams to surprise playoff berths.

Kelly is the pick because he's in the spotlight and his offensive ideas are eye-opening. If Kelly can lead an intriguing, but uneven Eagles roster back to the playoffs, he'll earn this award.

No matter, I have little choice but to finish what I started. And if the Browns win nine games this year before suffering a heartbreaking January defeat to (yep) the Denver Broncos, how could Chud not be the NFL's Coach of the Year?

I don't feel even remotely good about this.

Marc Sessler's pick: Marc Trestman, Chicago Bears

Yes, he spells his first name the right -- and noble -- way. But that had nothing to do with my pick. Trestman has dug his claws deep into the Bears, especially Jay Cutler. The quarterback's drops are crisper and his footwork is improved, and Cutler has bought in.

Trestman was the NFL's most unique offseason coaching hire, and he wowed Bears general manager Phil Emery with his organizational abilities and vision for a team that desperately needed a spark. Trestman inherited a Bears roster flush with talent. Matt Forte is set to explode, and receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery promise to be a productive duo in the passing game. And Chicago finally addressed the offensive line.

Armed with the NFC North's best defense, I have Trestman leading the Bears to a division crown over the Packers. It won't be a fluke; the Quarterback Whisperer will make plenty of noise in 2013.

Kevin Patra's pick: Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs

Battista: XLVIII things to watch

As teams get ready to race for Super
Bowl XLVIII,
Judy Battista picks out 48 things that will hold your attention this season.
More ...

The history of the Coach of the Year Award suggests it should be subtitled: Your team wasn't very good last year, but you made vast improvements.

With that in mind, I'm taking Andy Reid. The Chiefs are coming off a 2-14 season and have the best chance to go from league-worst to the playoffs. Reid hasn't all of a sudden forgotten how to coach, and with an underrated roster, he will get the most out of his players. In a weak division, Reid will lead the Chiefs to a playoff berth, take home his second Coach of the Year Award and get the love he rarely received in Philadelphia.

Chris Wesseling's pick: Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Around The League crew will follow Mike Tomlin anywhere, including into the voting booth. The Steelers have an aging defense, are paper-thin in the backfield and at tight end and lack a receiving weapon to draw double teams now that Mike Wallace is in Miami. No matter. Tomlin's troops will ascend to their rightful throne in the AFC North.